106 The SpiritualLife.
formwith form,the obstruction of thevehicles
inwhichtheseparatedselvesabide.
In order to draw out devotion, then, an
objectwhich isattractive must be presented to
man,andwefind such objects presented most
completely in the revelations of the Supreme
Self made through human forminthe"God-
Men" who appear from time to time~the
Avataras,orDivineIncarnations. Suchbeings
arerenderedsupremelyattractivebythebeauty
of character theymanifest, bythe rays of the
Selfwhichshmethroughthehumanveil,imper-
fectlyconceahngtheirdivineloveliness. When
Hewhois Beautyand Love and Bliss shows
alittleportionof Himself on earth,encasedin
human form,thewearyeyes of men lightup,
thetiredheartsofmenexpand,withanewhope,
a new vigour. They are irresistibly attracted
to Him, devotion spontaneously springs up.
Among Christians the intensity of religious
devotionflows out to Christ,the DivineMan,
regarded as an incarnationof Deity, farmore
than to "God" in the abstract. It is His
humanside. Hislife anddeath. Hissympathy
andcompassion. Hisgentlewisdomandpatient
sufferings, which stir men's heartstoapassion
of devotion; as the "Man of Sorrows," the
innocent and willing Sufferer, He wins per-
